Best bracelet fastening?

[Seahorse]

Ive made a couple of bracelets with wire and beads,I used a bolt clasp as a fastening, Ive just tried to do them up and its impossible.
Am I doing something wrong or would it be best to use a toggle type clasp?

[icecreamgirl]

Morning! I usually put split rings on each end of the bracelet/necklace then a trigger clasp on one end (a split ring works a bit like a keyring - you feed the trigger clasp onto it in the same way you put a key onto a key ring) Then you do the same with an extension chain on the other end.
If using wire you can get away without the split ring - you just wrap the wire through the trigger clasp and then back onto itself and put a crimp bea on it to hold in place.

I prefer trigger clasps to bolt ones as i think they seem sturdier
Hope this helps

[icecreamgirl]

Hoi again! Just thought have you eva tried those magnetic clasps they are great for bracelets as they almost fasten themselves!!
Depends on how heavy the beads are you use though as theres the rist of it coming undone while dancing/undressing/messing about!!

[Peter]

Every bracelet I make now has a toggle. I've had so many complaints about not being able to fasten lobster clasps, and magnetic are ok for strong bracelets, but they pull the stitching out of beadwork after a bit of use! :) At the moment I'm sat trying to decipher a peyote pattern for beaded toggle and ring - there's an easy one and a hard one.......................I wonder which I'll do!

[icecreamgirl]

So what's a toggle one like then? is that the ones you screw together?
Am i being dim?

[Seahorse]

A toggle is a biggish circle with a thing like a T bar put through it and in theory it should fasten.
Ive ordered some hook type toggles to see how they go.

[icecreamgirl]

Ah it's all becoming clear.................
Might try some myself!!

[Daydream]

Most bracelets I do now have toggle clasps as well.

Any jewellery I've bought myself in the past which has a lobster/trigger clasp I find after a bit of use the trigger doesn't work as well and you get a gap where the fastening ring can slip through, you've then lost your bracelet!

[Fran]

Would it be possible to see the bracelet in question?

I try to offer a wide selection of fasteners. (oddly enough I don't offer magnetic, don't know why) Some folk like one type over another and you never know from one day to the next as to which is preferred.

With most of my bracelets I try to have a ending that allows me to quickly change over to a different type of clasp without taking the bracelet apart should the customer need it.

So, for me variety depending on the stucture and style of the bracelet is the way to go.

Fran

[Seahorse]

Sorry, no picture available.Plus its in a unasembled state at the moment.Hoping toget some relevant fasteners soon.

[Peter]

...............or you could make your own! :)

[icecreamgirl]

Who's a clever boy then????????????????????????????????;)

[Seahorse]

...............or you could make your own! :)

Smartbotty.

[beadhead]

Hi

I think toggles are probably easier to fasten than bolt rings or triggers. The disadvantage is that they haven't got the adjustment that a bolt ring and extension chain has.

I've found that putting a reasonably heavy bead/charm on the end of the extension chain will weigh it down so that it hangs allowing you to attach the clasp.

Rachel

[Peter]

Welcome back Rachel. :)

[beadhead]

Thanks Peter - I'm having a 'catch-up-on-forums- day!!

[Bea]

Hi

I beg to differ :D and use Stretch Magic, only because I can't be doing with fiddling with a fastener in the morning :p
I also think though that toggles are prob best for bracelets.
However I am not convinced magnetic clasps are ok for bracelets as I find they tend to attach themselves to other stuff and off they go! I prefer magnetic clasps for necklaces.

Peter, love your work!

[icecreamgirl]

Ive never managed to get on with the stretchy stuff - is there a special way off knotting it so that it dosen't come undone? Someone told me to put nail varnish on it but that can't be right can it?